When three seniors Joyce Nojaholo, 62, Nomatila Tyesi, 72, and Thembile Mavume, 66, from Khayelitsha, were asked to play parts in a depression and anxiety short film by University of Cape Town students, they all thought it was a joke.
Little did they know the call to star in In Isolation was real.
The three belong to a seniors’ club, Masibathande Senior Citizens in Action in Khayelitsha.
Speaking to Vukani on Friday August 17 about their roles in the film, Ms Tyesi and Mr Mavume could not suppress their excitement now that they have started with the production. However, they conceded that at first, they were both shocked at having been asked because they said they are not educated, they are old and they were aware that they do not have the skills of the younger generation.
“I did not go that far at school and when these kids were telling me to be a mom in a film, I nearly fainted. It was unbelievable.
“Here was I having to sit down and read lines. I cannot even see properly. I was really shocked,” Ms Tyesi told Vukani.
She said she did did not have a good childhood and had to leave school very early. She said another problem during their time was patriarchy, when a girl child could not go further in education because the belief was that they would get married anyway.
But now she said she is over the moon to have learnt new skills. “I can’t believe that I now play a role in the fight against depression. But to top it all, I have learnt here that there is something called depression.
“To us it was all witchcraft. I am glad in my late days in life I have become a star,” she said.
She added that she is now an ambassador for raising awareness about depression. She urged other grannies to raise awareness about the disease.
“Let us sit our children down. They need to always check their health status. We also need to allow them space to speak out about their problems,” she said.
Mr Mavume stressed the importance of education too.
“I never thought of this in my age. Whoever thought at 66 I will stand in front of cameras? I declined to take the part (at first) but these children confronted me and showed me the positivity of the film.
“They told me I will be the father of a child who is depressed at school. After a lengthy talk with Thembi Gecelo, founder of Masibathande Senior Citizens in Action Club , I finally agreed. I now have this new experience,” he said.
Like his fellow actors, he said he is now an ambassador for depression awareness.
“I guess we need to unite against that sickness. From what I am getting from the students, it has killed many people. They made an example of a certain lecturer who died recently as a result of it,” he said.
Ms Gecelo said she was happy for the three. She said she started the club for the elderly to feel loved and respected.
Film producer Khanyisile Mazibuko said the short film is also about black masculinity where men who have a mental health problem think they are cursed or they are not man enough if they report it. “In the film we are following a student who was affected but instead of reporting the matter to his parents, he did not,” she said.
Talking about the seniors’ parts in the film, she said they did extremely well. “They are a shining light. The chemistry between all the actors is unbelievable,” she said.
She said people can follow them on Instagram: shortfilmsinisolation and on Facebook.